Signed up for "Some Like It Hot" because I want to learn more about jewelry-making and had my first…read morelesson today. First time visiting the Art School and first time working with a handsaw. Metalsmithing is no joke! My left tricep is sore just from holding the copper piece in place. The instructor, Juvana S., was professional, approachable, friendly, and seems knowledgeable. I found myself wishing the class was a YouTube tutorial because I need to watch/hear some things on repeat and also pause when needed. The class went on a good pace though since my fellow classmates were mostly new to this type of thing. The Metals Studio has everything (I guess) stocked and laid out. The three hours went by really quickly. I can't wait to learn more in the weeks to come!

I went to the Pecha Kucha night (20 slides, 20 seconds each) on Friday to get a flavor of this…read morestyle of presentation (to implement in my classroom). We showed up minutes before intermission and right away I noticed... 1. The sound quality was poor (you could barely hear from the back where most of the crowd was standing) 2. There were limited stools to sit on but a majority of the crowd was standing... 3. There was a tent with free beer but they don't serve during the presentations (intermission looked like a scene from Walmart on Black Friday) The presentations were... not what I expected. The next Pecha Kucha night is on March 9th and I think I'm going to give it another shot. Chamorro Grindz was the featured food truck but we ate before we came (the reason why we were an hour late). The highlight of the night was when I discovered that teachers can check out artifacts to share with their students ... for free.

One of the most admirable programs the YWCA supports is "Dress for Success", helping women boost…read moretheir confidence as they enter/re-enter the workforce. I was involved in a similar program in the San Francisco Bay Area; there is universal support for women. Showing support can be manifested in several ways (see the YWCA's website), including attending their Pre-Loved Clothing Sales, with great prices, held once a month. The sales are published on their website, or by signing up for email notifications. Both the quality and quantity of clothing are 'knock your socks off' experience - wonderful donations with proceeds going to the program. The sale is held on the 2nd floor Gym from 10-5; payment is with cash or credit card...BYOBag. Parking can be a bit of a challenge...meter on the street or across the street in the Iolani Palace paid-for-parking lot. Either way, plan on spending at least an hour at the sale - everything is neatly laid out, sorted, and organized...way to go, YWCA!

The YWCA is absolutely beautiful and a great place that does amazing work in the community. I…read morerecently stopped by to donate old prom dresses because they provide them direct to high school girls in need! Cafe Julia is here and I've seen beautiful weddings be hosted in this space!

This is a great halau for beginners. They meet once a week in space they have at Paradise Cove, at…read morethe very back of manoa. If you know where the parking lot is before the manoa falls hike is, you're in the right place. The people in the halau are friendly enough and the kumu hula is very knowledgable. I loved his song selection. Members also have various opportunities to perform. This halau even goes to Merrie Monarch. Being in a halau can get expensive. The cost of costumes and instruments can be overwhelming. Other Halaus can expect larger time commitments too, so shop around for the right fit, time commitment and style of instruction. I have some experience dancing (I was in a halau when I was a lot younger and continued dancing throughout high school and college in school clubs), and was looking for a halau where I could continue working my hula skill. Unfortunately, this halau didn't work out for me as I would have had to start at the beginning level.

I've been a dancer in this hālau since 2010. This is a great place for you to integrate the values…read moreof hula into your lifestyle and gain more than just to dance. This is the perfect place to start or restart your hula experience. The classes are very affordable and held for an hour a week when you begin. After you gain some skill you will be integrated into performances, which keep the art of hula celebrated and alive!

A Hidden Gem in Downtown! This art installation is a…read morefantastic gem in the heart of downtown. So many different artists showcasing their unique styles and creativity. The atmosphere was inspiring--I even had a great conversation with a houseless man who was simply enjoying the beauty and emotion that art brings. Truly a space where everyone feels welcome and connected through art.

Came to see a play (Titus Andronicus) here. There's a gallery which showcases local artwork, books…read more The stage area is small and cozy with tiered seating which makes for a more intimate setting. Acoustics are pretty good- no problem at all hearing the actors. There were drinks for sale as well. FYI-there's only 2 bathroom stalls which made for a long line during intermission. Really enjoyed the venue and play!

My granddaughter is taking her first ballet classes at Page Academy…read more The facility is clean and modern. The instructors are really patient with the young children and make the classes interesting, memorable and fun. They are currently prepping the dancers for a spring program. Prices are typical for an hour long activity. We're paying $20 per session. They offer classes for all levels including adult classes. There is a nice waiting area for parents and they can sit and watch the children learn. A restroom is available as well. There is no dedicated parking lot and street parking can be a challenge to find. We parked on a side street.

UPDATE on Apr 29: It took Page 6 (SIX!!!) weeks to reply to…read moremy email, only to say that she was sorry she'd taken "many days" (read: 44 days to be exact) to consider our situation, but her stance was still the same. She even acknowledged that the wording of her time-off policy was unclear. I wrote back 2 days later to let her know that we would come back in April, take May & June off, and complete our year commitment in July. She wrote back the next day, letting me know she consulted with other studio owners and made the decision to release us from our yearlong contract and reimburse me for the months remaining on it. I've attached our correspondence in March. I did not ask to be released from our contract for several reasons: a) I wanted my daughter to stick to her commitment to ballet, as she had promised when we paid nearly $1k for the year -- as a parent, we were deprived of developing her perseverance. b) We felt we should honor the contract, regardless of whether we agreed with it. c) My daughter liked her instructor (not Page), has many friends, and made many others in the months that she attended Page Academy. By ending our contract, Page also abruptly ended several relationships that my daughter worked hard to build. I still do not agree with Page's time-off policy. If I may make a recommendation (as I imagine Page will read this review one day), I think time-off should be allowed 4 weeks at a time wherever those 4 weeks fall. As it stands now, students take the calendar month off (from the 1st to the 30th/31st). But if a student takes December or May off, they receive fewer weeks off than other possible months (and some months have 5 weeks, depending on the day of the lesson). It would make more sense to offer a flexible 4 weeks off (therefore, 4 lessons off) that falls any time of the month. Since Page offers classes 48 weeks (12 x 4) during the year, it is fairer to let the customer choose which 4 weeks (aka month) they can take off. Instead, the current policy forces the student to take a "month" off when there may only 2 lessons held during that time. I hope I've illustrated the inflexibility, poor service & communication, and lack of consideration & care that I experienced during our year as a paying customer at Page Academy. Never should a paying customer have to wait 48 hours, much less 6 weeks (that is 1052 hours!), for a response. Never have I received such awful service. Absolutely horrendous. And please keep in mind that my daughter is 5 years old and has no idea any of this has happened. While I would have preferred that she finish the year, as she promised us and we promised Page Academy, I'm grateful my daughter hasn't asked about why she's no longer taking ballet. I'm not sure how I'd tell her that we were "released from our contract" (the closest definition I can think of is that we were kicked out or booted from the Academy). It's just really sad and disappointing all around -- all because of THEIR poorly-worded policies and time off that we requested that happen to fall during a "month" with only 2 lessons scheduled + inflexibility on prolonging my daughter's course so that her remaining 2 months could be back-to-back instead of piecemeal.

This is 10 stars dance school. The best possible that you can find anywhere. These classes are one…read moreof the best if not THE best learning classes I have ever seen, and I have been around dancing for 15 years taking classes in many different genres from top teachers globally. If you want to learn to dance, Tunui's is the place. The teacher is extremely experienced and knowledgeable, extremely patient and supportive, and is an amazing teacher and an amazing dancer. The halao is very nice. The dancers have a high level of skill and win competitions, locally and nationally. And, learning is fun here. It is light and joyful and jovial, and everyone has fun. I joke and say that Tunui can teach chairs to dance, but honestly, I wouldn't doubt it. I came in as an older dancer, stiff, without proper technique, and in some years in his classes. I can make proper movements now. I also see visitors who come in for 1-2 months to Honolulu specifically to study with Tunui and their dance tremendously improves. Just the experience of being in the middle of a group of really fantastic dancers and soaking that in is so memorable and helps you to dance better. Tunui's dancers are precise. If you watch the movement carefully, there is no sloppiness, the movement is very crispy clean and elegant. It is an amazing accomplishment. I forgot to mention: halao performs and competes, for people who want that, you will practice and learn competition solos. Also Tunui is famous for his costuming. The classes teach everything you need to know to dance better and to perform - posturing, acting, feeling, telling a story with the movement, tricks for performing solo competitions, and of course, training to be a member of a halao and perform as "one". Most wonderful place to learn and even venture into more performing and even professional dance career. Quite a few dancers turn professionals.

To cause growth, to cause to increase, to spread growth, to sprout, to inspire, to excite...part of…read morethe mission of the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus. And that they do, challenge and develop our Keiki. THRILLED beyond measure that a friend's son was going to be in the Hawaii Youth Opera production of the Mikado I jumped for joy and somersaulted to Orvis Auditorium on the University of Hawaii Campus. Could this be? Grant not only was in the production but had a fabulously funny, major role as "the Grand Pooh Bah". Alongside were characters: Chow Fun, Char Sue, Cha Wan...So you see from some of the names, the opera was individualized, modernized, localized, and ohh sooo entertaining. Dis Aunty is so proud of all da participants. Wow, so good. Hana hou. Can't hardly wait until the next performance!

I sang with HYOC for about four years and I can honestly say that it has shaped who I am. This…read moreorganization masterfully teaches children musical theory and technique in a nurturing and fun environment. HYOC is internationally recognized and awarded for its excellence. Students have moved on to sing on the professional stage (even The Met!), operas with Hawaii Opera Theater, originally scored operas, National Honors Choirs, and choirs around the world. Children learn to sing in German, Chinese, Korean, French, Japanese, Italian, and of course Hawaiian. They learn to read music and follow musical direction. But most importantly...their performances give me chicken skin!!! Angelic!! To this day, 25 years later, I still have friendships with HYOC alumni. Singing develops neural pathways, strengthens core breathing and builds happiness/emotional resilience. Join...send your kids, go to performances, give money to support the children and nā mele o Hawai'i!!

Love this festival! This year it will be in Waikiki at the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School on…read moreKapahulu April 1-2, 9A-4P. Highland games, dancing, music, sword play. Can't wait! Hoping Celtica will be here again!

This was held at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Park in 2014…read more We had an enjoyable Sunday afternoon here at the 2014 Festival. First, you can't beat the price: $1 entry! And free parking. They have a lot going on, but you are on your own to figure out what and when. That is probably my only criticism. They posted nothing online for 2014 (that I could find), so I didn't know what their entertainment lineup was or any other helpful information to plan. We took our chances and arrived around noon on Sunday. They also didn't seem to have any programs or any info onsite - we had to either ask someone or just wander around. That said, we found plenty of interesting things to see and do. One room of the pavilion is dedicated to booths and tables where you can learn more about Scotland, its people, and geography. If you have any Scottish heritage, you can learn a lot about your ancestors. Several clans are represented here, and they can give you loads of information. An inside stage was dedicated to Scottish dancing. We bypassed it to watch the bagpipes and drums on the outdoor stage. Meanwhile, there were vendors selling Celtic jewelry, artisanal preserves, woodcrafts, etc. Food vendors were also scattered around, including bar carts selling Scotch (of course!). By mid-afternoon, a lot of vendors had sold out of their wares. Meanwhile, outside on the lawn, men in kilts were competing in highland games. Caber tosses, throwing of all kinds of heavy things, heaving heavy things over bars - it's actually quite fascinating to watch! After the bagpipers left the stage inside the pavilion, the Housewife Games were announced - and any lady was invited to participate. Three events: frying pan toss and rolling pin toss (distance), and a haggis roll (accuracy). I turned to my festival companions and said "I have to go do that now" and went outside to register. It was free, and I got to fling things! About a dozen ladies joined me in the competition, and some were unexpectedly strong. Everyone was really friendly and chatty and cheered one another on. The gentlemen measuring our throws were really fun and good-natured. I had a blast! And came in as second-runner up, so I won a prize! I can't wait to return next year - I'm going to practice my throwing in the meantime and will be gunning for champion. :)